Lancers Use Big First Half to Hold Off Surging Owls

WORCESTER, Mass. – Clare Conway (Billerica, Mass.) scored nine goals, including seven in the first half, as the Worcester State women's lacrosse team defeated Keene State 14-10 in non-conference action on Thursday evening at Coughlin Field.

Conway's night ties her for the third most goals in a game in Worcester State program history. She fired 15 shots, 12 of them on goal, and added an assist, two ground balls and two caused turnovers in the win.

The Lancers improve to 4-4 on the season, while Keene State drops to 0-5, despite a four-goal performance from Haile Ratajack (Brewster, N.Y.).

Worcester State took a 3-0 lead within five minutes, with Conway scoring the first two and then setting up Julia Ravenelle (Barrington, N.H.) for the third.

Brigid Casey (Vernon, N.H.) got Keene State on the board with a goal and then set up Ratajack for her first of the night, but Conway scored three straight before the end of the first quarter, giving her five of the six Lancer markers in a 6-2 lead.

She picked up where she left off with the first two goals of the second quarter before Lily Gendron (Lakeville, Mass.) and Shea Jarvis (Auburn, Mass.) got involved and the Lancers led 10-2 with six minutes to play in the half.

Ratajack pulled two back for the Owls before the break, but Abby Lauzon (Lakeville, Mass.), Hannah Erickson (Dunstable, Mass.) and Conway led a 3-1 third quarter to push the Lancers lead to 13-5 after three.

Conway scored the only goal of the fourth for Worcester, which saw no scoring until the final six minutes. Mackenzie Macgowan (Northford, Conn.) got the first two goals of the quarter and Ratajack closed her account at 2:17. Hannah Dworkin (Manchester, Vt.) potted goals at 1:23 and 1:02 as the Owls pulled back to a four-goal deficit before the final whistle.

Jarvis had a goal and three assists, while Emily Pavoni (Granby, Mass.) had three helpers and Hurley had two assists for the Lancers.

Savanna Rosado (Milford, Mass.) stopped 12 shots and improves to 4-4 between the pipes for Worcester, while Sofia Perivolotis (Littleton, Mass.) made two stops in relief.

Haley Terva (Granby, Conn.) made 17 saves in the net for Keene State, who will host Amherst on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.

Worcester State heads to Wheaton next Wednesday at 4:00 PM.